She begged for it, pleaded,like everything alive does.Scratch at the door,singing her little sermon,tail ticking time.Green eyes flashing,centuries of instinct.So I put her out.Mesh cage on the porch.Sunlight thin.World almost safe.I left her there,like every other sunshine promise day.Groceries....

  The moth kept pouring itselfagainst the porch light.Over and over.A tiny, dusty bodychasing something brightthat had no intentionof saving it. I understood that.Spent enough yearsdoing the same thing.Following neon signs.Half-empty glasses.Things that looked warmfrom a distance. I was twenty-one,standing beside my...